Obtuse Angle

PAT LEHANE

Barry inspiring the next generation

Congratulations to Barry Murphy,

B.Eng Fire Engineering, from Lindab. Following an intensive year’s study, combined with earlier remote learning because of the Covid pandemic, he fi nally got to don the mortarboard and gown at a recent graduation day celebration in WIT. Keen to inspire the next generation of engineers, Barry brought his three children – Zoe, Rhy and Louis – to the ceremony. The industry talks a great deal about getting to youngsters as early as transition year … maybe Barry has the better idea.

Oil goes up … and down!

What a topsy-turvy world we live in. On 7 March last the Brent oil index hit $139 a barrel, a fi gure not seen since 2008. Given the well-documented fallout following Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, it all made sense.

However, by 15 March oil prices had fallen to just less than $100 a barrel. Fears of a downturn in China were the primary reason, as the Chinese face renewed lockdowns because of a new Covid surge.

Good news? Not really. If Chinese manufacturing locks down again we’ll see a re-emergence of product and component shortages, just when the supply chain seemed to be easing. Indeed, shipping container costs alone – which had dropped to approximately $13,000 in early March – had already risen to $17,000 by mid-March.

Unfortunately, the only certainty in today’s world is uncertainty.

Does this ‘ring’ true?

Wonderful to hear of Ryan Loney’s engagement to Tara. Our pic shows just how thrilled they both are and I wish them a long and happy life together.

However, a word of caution Tara. I’m a little concerned at the way Chéile is scrutinising the ring. It could be that she is feeling a little left out, or even resentful … but maybe she is trying to tell you something about the carat quality of the gem. Just saying …

Hype over substance

While a recent Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) study confi rms that indoor house plants can reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – a pollutant linked to respiratory disease – by as much as 20%, it’s important not to get too carried away. There is no doubting that house plants improve indoor air quality, and indeed wellbeing in general. Even Dr Christian Pfrang, who led the study, noted: “removing pollutants is best seen as a side benefit of house plants but they would be outperformed by mechanical filters.” It would be great if the mass media highlighted the benefits of evidence-based technology to the same extent that it excessively promotes superficial stories.

Do as I say, not as …

Extra carbon taxes, excessive duty on petrol/diesel, rising home energy costs, bike lanes that are crippling business traffi c fl ow, etc, etc – all “green” initiatives designed to reduce our carbon footprint.

Yet, here we have the self-same “champions” of these policies jetting off around the world in the name of St Patrick’s Day. Between so-called senior ministers and junior ministers, they racked up something like 33 visits abroad. Also, it’s best not to dwell on what the full travelling numbers were when you include their respective advisors, personal secretaries, etc.

Leading the charge to New York was our very own “get on your bike” Minster Ryan. Adept as he is at issuing press statements about the damaging carbon footprint of everyone else, no doubt we’ll see nothing about the scale of his carbon footprint and that of his colleagues’ recent skites abroad. Don’t you just love it!